Cycling helmet

ABSTRACT

A cycling helmet includes a cap structure, a fastening system of the helmet with straps for chinstrap fastening of the helmet, and securing means for the straps of the fastening system with respect to the cap structure. The securing means include for each strap a pin-like formation which is secured to the free end of the strap and a respective removable retention seat of the pin-like formation which is provided on the cap structure. The securing means also include a gripping end piece which extends from each pin-like formation of the corresponding strap and which is configured to control, when held, the movement of the pin-like formation away from and towards an engagement condition in the retention seat.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to the field of cycling helmets.

BACKGROUND

In the technical field of protective helmets for practicing cycling, the cap-like structure of the helmet is typically provided with an external cap or shell which comprises a substantially rigid material and has a shape suitable for covering the head and in which there is connected an internal cap which is generally of a suitable material for absorbing the impacts, for example, of polystyrene or similar materials.

There is normally connected to the cap-like structure of the helmet a fastening system with belts or straps in order to stably secure the helmet on the head.

Such a fastening system typically makes provision for, at both sides of the cap-like structure, two strap portions to be able to be fixed, wherein each strap portion is Y-shaped with the end of each upper portion being secured to the cap-like structure of the helmet, but with there being applied to the lower portion of each strap portion a closure member which cooperates with a corresponding closure member which is applied to the lower portion of the other strap portion in order to close the strap under the throat of the cyclist generally in a snap-fitting and adjustable manner.

A first known solution provides for the upper portions of each strap portion to be fixedly joined, at the ends thereof, to the cap structure by means of permanent fixing systems, for example, by means of rivets or similar connection means, but which by their nature prevent the possible replacement of the straps.

In this case, it is not possible, for maintenance requirements, cleaning or for requirements of a purely aesthetic nature (for example, for changing the color of the straps), to disengage the straps from the cap-like structure of the helmet.

In view of the above-mentioned requirements, other known solutions would allow the disengagement from the cap structure of the end portions of the strap portion but with rather complicated operations which the cyclist is often not capable of carrying out on his/her own or which require the use of tools.

A known solution provides, for example, for the end portion of the strap to be folded and stitched on an anchor pin which is retained against a slotted opening which is fixedly joined to the cap structure, into which the strap is passed.

Another solution provides for the strap to be fixedly joined to an abutment member, for example, by means of stitching, after the strap has been passed through a through-opening which is formed in the external shell of the helmet; the abutment action applied by the profile of the opening against this member ensures the anchoring of the corresponding portion of the strap portion with respect to the cap structure of the helmet.

Though it is possible to release the strap from the cap for the potential replacement thereof, it requires a given amount of work which is neither easy nor rapid and which may also involve the strap being unpicked and re-stitched, operations which can be carried out only by specialist and authorized operators.

A main object of the invention is to provide a cycling helmet which is structurally and functionally configured to overcome the limitations set out with reference to the cited prior art.

SUMMARY

This object and other objects which will be set out below are achieved by the invention by means of a cycling helmet which is constructed in accordance with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a cycling helmet constructed according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view to an enlarged scale of the helmet of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of a detail of the helmet of the preceding Figures with the portions depicted in a disengagement condition,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the detail of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the detail of FIG. 3 in a different operating condition between the connected portions,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the detail shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the detail of FIGS. 3 and 5 which is shown under mutual engagement conditions of the connected portions,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the detail shown in FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of one of the details of FIG. 3,

FIG. 10 is a cross-section along the line X-X of FIG. 6,

FIG. 11 is a cross-section along the line XI-XI of FIG. 8,

FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the detail shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the Figures cited, there is designated 1 a cycling helmet which is constructed according to the present invention.

The helmet 1 comprises a cap structure 2 which is capable of wrapping for the most part the head of the user and which comprises an external cap 3 in the form of a shell of rigid or semi-rigid material and an internal cap 4 which comprises a suitable material for absorbing the impacts and which is intended to wrap the head of the cyclist with contact.

Preferably, the cap or external shell 3 is constructed from polycarbonate or ABS or another similar material while the internal cap 4 is produced from expanded polystyrene or another similar material.

The cap 1 further comprises a strap type fastening system for the chinstrap fastening of the helmet, which is generally designated 5.

The system comprises in the region of each lateral side of the helmet, designated 2 a, 2 b, a respective strap portion 6 a, 6 b which is Y-shaped with a lower portion 7 which is connected to two upper portions 8, 9. The ends of each upper portion 8, 9 are secured to the cap structure 2 of the helmet, there being applied to the lower portion 7 of one (6 a) of the strap portions a first portion 10 a of a closure member which cooperates with a corresponding second portion 10 b of the closure member which is applied to the lower portion 7 of the other strap portion (6 b) in order to generally close in a snap-fitting and adjustable manner the strap under the throat of the cyclist. The closure member is of conventional type and does not constitute subject-matter of the present invention.

Each of the upper portions 8, 9 of the corresponding strap portion 6 a,b can be fixed in a removable manner to the cap structure 2 of the helmet by respective securing means. As a result of the structural identity, there will be described in detail below only the securing means of the upper portion 8, it being understood that identical securing means are provided for the upper portion 9, in each of the strap portions at the corresponding side of the helmet.

The securing means comprise for each upper strap portion 8 a pin-like formation 11 which is secured to the free end of the upper strap portion and a respective seat 12 which is provided in the cap structure 2 which is intended to retain the pin-like formation in a removable manner.

The securing means further comprise a gripping end piece 13 which extends from the respective pin-like formation 11 of the corresponding strap and which is suitable for controlling, when held, the movement of the pin-like formation 11 away from and towards an engagement condition in the retention seat 12, as will be appreciated in greater detail from the following description.

Advantageously, the end piece 13 is integral, that is to say, constructed in a single piece, with the pin-like formation 11 and the pin-like formation preferably has a cylindrical formation.

The end piece 13 comprises a plate-like portion 13 a which produces the gripping surface which is extended as a pair of arms 13 b, 13 c which are parallel with and spaced apart from each other and are fixedly joined to the pin-like formation 11. The arms 13 b, 13 c project practically radially from the pin 11 and are connected to the plate-like portion 13 a at a preselected angle of inclination.

Each of the arms 13 b, 13 c is further fixedly joined to the pin-like formation 11 at a predetermined spacing from a corresponding and respective free axial end of the pin-like formation so that there remains delimited between each free end of the pin and the corresponding arm adjacent thereto a corresponding and respective pin portion which is designated 11 a, 11 b and which is intended to be adjoined by respective surfaces 12 a, 12 b of the seat 12. The arms 13 b, 13 c together delimit with at least a portion of the pin-like formation 11 (the portion between the arms) and with an end edge of the plate-like portion 13 a (the one directed towards the pin) a through-opening 14. The passage of the corresponding upper strap portion which is intended to be wrapped with relevant fixing around the pin-like formation 11 is carried out through the opening 14. Preferably, the strap is wrapped around the pin with stitching of the superimposed edges in order to fixedly join the end of the strap to the pin (FIG. 9).

There is designated 15 another through-opening in the form of an elongate slot which is formed in the plate-like portion 13 a at the side opposite the opening 14. There is passed through the opening 15 the strap of the upper portion before the wrapping and fixing thereof around the pin-like formation. With such a configuration, the end of the upper strap portion is fixed in a position abutting the plate-like portion of the gripping end piece 13.

The seat 12 for anchoring the pin-like formation 11 is defined in a box-shaped member 16 which is partially open and which is provided with an opening 17 for inserting and removing the pin-like formation 11. The opening 17 is in communication with a pair of cavities 18 a, 18 b which are formed in the member 16 and which delimit the respective abutment surfaces 12 a, 12 b in order to receive and retain the corresponding portions 11 a, 11 b of the pin 11.

The opening 17 and the pair of cavities 18 a, 18 b have such a formation that the pin-like formation 11 is directed, by gripping the gripping end piece 13 between the fingers, away from and towards the opening 17 in a first movement direction and away from and towards the cavities 18 a, 18 b in a second movement direction which is transverse relative to the first direction.

Each respective cavity 18 a, 18 b is further partially delimited by a base surface 16 a of the box-shaped member 16. At the side opposite the base 16 a, there is provided in each cavity a tooth-like formation 19 which is capable of acting counter to the withdrawal of the corresponding pin portion from the cavity once inserted and retained therein.

The box-shaped member 16 which has the seat 12 for engaging the pin is fixedly joined in a suitable manner to the cap structure 2 of the helmet, for example, it may be secured to the internal cap 3 during the injection-molding process of the cap (FIG. 12). To this end, there may be provision for the box-shaped member to be provided with suitable projections or protrusions which are intended to be embedded in the internal cap during the injection-molding process in order to improve the adhesion action between the jointly molded members.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, the sequence of the operations for carrying out the engagement of the corresponding upper strap portion with the cap structure is carried out in the following manner.

From the condition of FIG. 3, in which the pin-like formation 11 is disengaged from the seat 12, by gripping the gripping end piece 13 between the fingers (for example, between the thumb and index finger of the hand), the pin 11 is brought into the region of the opening 17 in order to be inserted through the opening in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base surface of the box-shaped member (FIG. 5). Once moved behind the base, the pin is moved, still by means of the engagement with the end piece, in a direction parallel with the base until engaging with the cavities of the seat (FIG. 7). This position is reached by means of a slight resilient deformation of the cavity which is capable of allowing the respective abutment tooth 19 to be passed by the corresponding pin portion 11 a, 11 b with a subsequent resilient return which ensures the counter-action of the tooth to the disengagement of the pin from the cavity. The insertion in each respective cavity is therefore brought about with a connection of the resilient snap-fit type.

Once the pin 11 is inserted and retained in the cavities of the seat 12, the strap is capable of transferring the loads applied by the fastening system to the cap structure by means of the action applied by the abutment surfaces 12 a, 12 b of each respective seat. In this position, the pin can further be angularly orientated about the main axis thereof in order to bring the gripping end piece 13 into abutment with the box-shaped member and in any case so as to remain to the greatest possible extent within the transverse dimension of the box-shaped member in order not to obstruct the correct fit of the helmet on the head, in the region of the securing means of the straps.

In order to remove the pin 11 from the retention seat 12, there is carried out a reverse movement with respect to the preceding one, which is readily controlled by gripping the gripping end piece 13 between the fingers. In a first movement, the pin is disengaged from the cavities (counter to the abutment action of the respective teeth 19), then with a second movement, substantially directed transversely to the first movement (and substantially perpendicular to the base surface of the box-shaped member), the pin-like formation is withdrawn from the seat through the opening 17, thereby bringing about the complete disengagement of the corresponding strap portion from the cap structure of the helmet. The invention thereby achieves the predetermined objectives, affording the advantages set out with respect to the known solutions.

A main advantage involves the fact that, by means of the invention, the engagement and disengagement of the straps of the fastening system with respect to the cap of the helmet are substantially improved and made easier in order to allow the rapid removal or replacement thereof, both for maintenance requirements or cleaning and for aesthetic requirements (for example, for changing the color of the straps) including by the user him/herself without thereby having to call upon specialist operators. 

1. A cycling helmet comprising a cap structure, a fastening system of the helmet with straps for chinstrap fastening of the helmet, and securing means for the straps of the fastening system with respect to the cap structure, the securing means comprising for each strap a pin-like formation which is secured to a free end of the strap and a respective removable retention seat of the pin-like formation which is provided on the cap structure, the securing means comprise a gripping end piece which extends from each pin-like formation of the corresponding strap and which is configured to control, when held, movement of the pin-like formation away from and towards an engagement condition in the retention seat.
 2. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein the gripping end piece is integral with the pin-like formation.
 3. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein the gripping end piece comprises a plate-like portion which extends as a pair of arms in a spaced-apart relationship, which are fixedly joined to the pin-like formation, the plate-like portion defining the gripping surface, by which the movement of the pin-like formation can be controlled.
 4. The helmet according to claim 3, wherein the arms delimit together with at least a portion of the pin-like formation and with an end of the plate-like portion a through-opening for the passage of the strap which is configured to be wrapped with relevant fixing around the pin-like formation.
 5. The helmet according to claim 4, wherein each of the arms is fixedly joined to the pin-like formation at a predetermined spacing from a corresponding and respective free end of the pin-like formation so that a pair of respective and opposing end portions, configured to be adjoined by respective surfaces of the seat, remain delimited on the pin-like formation.
 6. The helmet according to claim 5, wherein the seat is defined in an open box-shaped member which has an opening for the passage of the pin-like formation, said opening being in communication with a pair of cavities which are formed in the member and which have the abutment surfaces in order to receive and retain the respective end portions of the pin-like formation, the opening and the cavities having such a formation that the pin-like formation is directed, by gripping the end piece, away from and towards the opening in a first movement direction and away from and towards the cavity in a second movement direction, which is transverse relative to the first direction.
 7. The helmet according to claim 5, wherein the end portions of the pin-like formation have a cylindrical formation.
 8. The helmet according to claim 4, wherein the plate-like portion of the end piece has at a side, opposite to the opening, a second through-opening which is configured to be passed through by the strap in order to keep the strap in abutment against the plate-like portion.
 9. The helmet according to claim 6, further comprising an internal cap of a suitable material for absorbing impacts, the box-shaped member which has the retention seat of each strap being secured to the internal cap in an injection-molding process by which the internal cap is produced. 